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Lance Bouma’s pre-season was about claiming a NHL roster spot, but it was also about showing he was completely healed from the horrific knee injury which wiped out almost all of last season.

His offensive output isn’t what the Calgary Flames are most looking for from the 23-year-old from Provost, Alta. — we are talking about a winger with one goal in 43 NHL games — but it can’t hurt as the team comes closer to its final cuts in anticipation of the 2013-14 season.

“Hopefully it helps,” Bouma said after Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes in which he put the Flames on the board in the third period and cued a comeback.

“I’ve got to try and chip in offensively when I can. To be able to have some success that way is nice.

“It feels good.”

Bouma was on the verge of claiming an NHL job last season, but while in the minors during the lockout, he suffered a torn ACL and MCL on his right knee during the Abbotsford Heat’s third game of the season.

This year, Bouma went into the Flames’ training camp saying he was back to 100%, but his performances proved it.

“It hasn’t hurt at all. I haven’t felt it at all. I’m not thinking about it one bit,” Bouma said.

“I have total confidence in it.”

Still, with the Flames on the verge of making their final cuts before the Sept. 30 deadline, Bouma isn’t even close to believing he’s a sure thing to stay in Calgary with the big league club.

“I don’t think tonight was my best game, it was nice to score, but I think I did what I wanted to do coming into camp. Hopefully it’s enough,” he said.

Off the glass

The Flames played seven pre-season games and six skaters took to the ice in five of them, the most possible this year because on a pair of nights the team played split-squad games with clashes in two different cities at the same time. The fact that 2013 first-round draft choice Sean Monahan is one of those players should come as no surprise since the club wants to get a true read on the youngster. Same thing goes with Corban Knight. That TJ Brodie, Mikael Backlund, Shane O’Brien and Matt Stajan also skated in the maximum number of games is something of a surprise, since they’ll all be key figures in the regular season. “I’d rather play,” Stajan said. “There’s been a few injuries, so I’m sure that wasn’t the original plan, but I’m happy. You want to play. We get a week off now, too, so getting into that many games allows me to get my feet wet.” Knight, who was acquired in the summer, sure can’t say he wasn’t given a chance to show himself. “When I first came here, I knew the opportunity to make this team was there and the fact I’ve been given every chance to show my stuff, I appreciate that.” … For Knight, Wednesday’s clash was the first of the pre-season games he was expected to play centre from start to finish. “It’s been great moving around and trying to show the coaches I’m a versatile player, but going back to the middle where I’m comfortable, that’s exciting because I feel confident there.” He chipped in with a goal for the Flames .

In the crease

Imagine that, after all these years the Phoenix Coyotes finally have an owner. So much for the often-used storyline about the team. “You don’t want to talk about ownership?” said Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who had to discuss the subject ad nauseam for years. “I’d love to talk about our owners. It’s nice. Some stability and normalcy for the group, hopefully that translates into some good things.” … Some coaches around the league weren’t happy to see Buffalo Sabres bench boss Ron Rolston fined for putting enforcer John Scott on the ice and setting off the much-publicized scuffle with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, but Flames coach Bob Hartley said the fine won’t make him worry about putting the likes of Brian McGrattan on the ice. “We coach to win games and those guys, they’re there to protect the players and make sure the rules are applied,” Hartley said. “If us, the coaches or the players, cross the lines, they’ll remind us. I got fined before and it didn’t change my way of coaching.”

Sweet tweet

This preseason #Flames game is preparing me for the doldrums that will be January and February

Calgary Flames' Lance Bouma’s goals a pleasant surprise

Lance Bouma’s pre-season was about claiming a NHL roster spot, but it was also about showing he was completely healed from the horrific knee injury which wiped out almost all of last season.

His offensive output isn’t what the Calgary Flames are most looking for from the 23-year-old from Provost, Alta. — we are talking about a winger with one goal in 43 NHL games — but it can’t hurt as the team comes closer to its final cuts in anticipation of the 2013-14 season.

“Hopefully it helps,” Bouma said after Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes in which he put the Flames on the board in the third period and cued a comeback.

“I’ve got to try and chip in offensively when I can. To be able to have some success that way is nice.

“It feels good.”

Bouma was on the verge of claiming an NHL job last season, but while in the minors during the lockout, he suffered a torn ACL and MCL on his right knee during th